Ski binding



May 26, 1970 T. G. SMOLKA ETAL 3,514,120

SKI BINDING Filed April 12, 1968 PIC-7.8

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FIG.4

FIG. I!

FIGJO FIG.9

United States Patent Oflice 3,514,120 Patented May 26, 1970 3,514,120 SKI BINDING Thomas G. Sniolka and Johann Zelinka, Vienna, Austria,

assignors to Wiener Metallwarenfabrik Smolka & C0.,

Mauer, Austria Filed Apr. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 720,885 Claims priority, application Austria, Apr. 18, 1967,

A 3,663/67 Int. Cl. A63c 9/08 US. Cl. 280-1135 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention refers to a ski-binding (front piece, heel clamp or the like) having a sole fixing device, and is characterised in that the sole fixing device and a skibinding part have at least one extension each both which extensions are surrounded by an elastic, preferably endless, part. The elastic part can be made of rubber, steel or the like and can be torus-like, like a hollow cylinder etc.

According to a preferred embodiment the sole fixing device is made of two parts whereby each part has an extension; both extensions are co-operating with the skibinding part.

In a further embodiment two extensions of the fixing device are connected by elastic part to one common extension or to two extensions of the ski-binding part or vice versa one extension of the fixing device with two extensions of the ski-binding part.

Preferably the sole fixing device is supported in a straight, concave, convex or the like formed guide of the ski-binding part being preferably adjustable in height.

The drawing shows the object of the invention in several embodiments by way of example.

FIGS. 1 and 2 demonstrate schematically the idea of invention.

From FIGS. 3 to 6 an inventive construction in relating views can be seen, whereby FIG. 3 is a section along line III-III, and FIG. a section along line VV of FIG. 4, and FIG. 4 in one half a section along line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 shows a construction having a pivoted sole fixing device and FIG. 6, a side view of FIG. 4, a ski-binding part co-operating with the sole fixing device.

The FIG. 8 to 12 show three further embodiments wereby FIG. is a section along line XX of FIG. 9.

In the schematic drawing of FIGS. 1 and 2 the skibinding part 2 has an extension 4. The part 2 can be arranged rigidly or movably on the ski and might be a toe jaw, a heel clamp or the like. Likewise the sole fixing device 1 has an extension 3. These two extensions 3, 4 are surrounded together with an elastic part 5, for instance, a rubber ring, keeping the sole fixing device 1 in its middle position (FIG. 1). The elastic part 5 may also have other shapes such as a torus or a hollow cylinder. In a lateral release, for instance, during a turn fall, the sole fixing device 1 is moved against the force of the elastic part 5, which is stretched thereby (FIG. 2). After the shoe has come free the elastic part 5 moves the sole fixing device 1 back to the basic position as shown in FIG. 1.

According to FIGS. 3 to 7 two extensions 3 are arranged at the sole fixing device 1 and two extensions 4 are provided at the ski-binding part 2. One extension 3 and one extension 4 are surrounded by an elastic part 5 and thus the fixing device 1 maintained in its working position. The ski-binding part 2, being in the present embodiment bent out of sheet metal, has two angle parts being directed to the base 7 of the ski-binding and having teeth 8 in engagement with corresponding teeth of the base 7. By means of the screw 9 the ski-binding part 2 can be fixed in the desired height level. An angle part of the ski-binding part 2 forms the guide 6 for the sole fixing device 1, which has a groove 10 into which the guide 6 projects. Moreover, the sole fixing device is guided along the angle part carrying the extension 4 of the ski-binding part.

In FIG. 8 the sole fixing device 1 supporting the extension 3 and the ski-binding part 2 supporting the extension 4 are guided in parallel. As it can be seen the elastic part 5 is somewhat stretched and tries to bring the movable sole fixing device 1 into the middle position.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 the fixing device 1 is in two parts and its extension projects into a recess forming the guide 6 of the ski-binding part 2. Each fixing part 1 has an extension 3 and the ski-binding part 2 two extensions 4. By elastic parts 5 and the extensions 3, 4 each fixing part 1 is kept in the working position. If desired a stop may be provided for the middle position, on which both the sole fixing devices rest. The fixing device could, of course, also be in one piece with this construction.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 11 and 12 shows an elastic part 5 being formed by a steel ring and surrounding both the extensions 3, 4. Moving the extension 3 with respect to the extension 4 the elastic ring 5 is deformed as shown in FIG. 12. The elastic ring 5 has always the intention to return to the basic position according to FIG. 11.

The invention is not restricted to the shown embodi ment. There are a series of possibilities of construction being within the scope of invention. For instance, several extensions 3 or several extensions 4 can cooperate with one extension 4 or one extension 3. There might also be a holding device, for instance a ball snapping device or the like, between fixed and movable parts, thus that the force of release is given by the holding device and the elastic parts return the binding to the normal position.

We claim:

1. In a safety ski binding of the type permitting relative movement between the ski member and the boot member in response to exertion of a force having a predetermined minimum level and resulting from a fall or analogous occurrence, and including two binding units respectively engaging the toe and the heel of a boot member as well as the ski member so as to normally maintain the latter connected to the former, the improvement wherein at least one of said binding units comprises two proximal sections each of which is firmly connectable with one of said members, said sections each comprising at least one engaging portion and being displaceable with reference to one another from a normal proximal first to a separated second position in response to relative movement of said members; and restoring means comprising at least one circumferentially complete annular element engaging and encircling said engaging portions of both of said sections and operative for urging the latter to assume said first position in response to displacement of said sections with reference to one another out of said first and toward said second position, so that said sections and thereby said members are restored to their normal relative positions when said force diminishes below said predetermined level.

2. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, said annular elements being an elastically yieldable element.

3. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 2, wherein said elastically yieldable element consists of elastomeric material.

4. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 2, wherein said elastically yieldable element is a ring of springy steel.

5. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 2, wherein said elastically yieldable element is configurated in form of a torus.

6. In a safety ski binding as defined claim 2, wherein said elastically yieldable element is configurated in form of a hollow cylinder.

7. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 1; and further comprising cooperating guide means provided on said sections for guiding the same during movement relative to one another.

*8. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 7, said guide means comprising a guide groove provided in one of said sections and a guide projection provided on the other of said sections and extending into said guide groove for guided movement in and along the same.

9. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 8, wherein said guide groove is straight.

10. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 8, wherein said guide groove is arcuately curved.

11. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 8, said other section constituting a sole fixing device for urging the sole of the ski boot member into contact with a surface of the ski member, and said one section carrying said other section and being fixedly mounted on said surface of said ski member but with freedom of positioning in a plurality of positions respectively farther spaced from and closer to said surface as seen in direction normal there- 12. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, one of said sections being immovable, fixed with the ski member and the other of said sections constituting a sole fixing device for urging the sole of the ski boot member into contact with the ski member, said other of said sections being longitudinally adjacent to and movable relative to said one section between said positions.

13. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 12, said other section comprising two laterally adjacent parts respectively movable between said positions as well as relative to each other, said one section being provided with a pair of engaging portions and said parts each being pro vided with an engaging portion; and wherein said restoringmeans comprises a pair of restoring members each engaging an engaging portion of one of said parts of said other section.

14. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 12, said other section comprising two laterally adjacent parts respectively movable between said positions and each being provided with an engaging portion; and wherein said restoring means engages the engaging portions on said parts and said one section, respectively.

15. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 12, said other section comprising two of said engaging portions, and said restoring means engaging said engaging portion on said one section and said enaging portions on said other section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,149,854 9/1964 Marker 28011.35

3,298,703 1/ 1967 Marker 280l1.35

3,348,856 10/1967 Marker 28()-11.35

3,396,987 8/1968 Zimmermann 280l1.35

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,290,975 3/ 1962 France.

1,446,387 6/1966 France.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner J. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner 

